The Magpies have been light on for players all season and a recent string of injuries has stretched their resources to the limit.

“It was always going to be difficult towards the end of the year to manage our playing list,’’ Maryborough president Terry Hillier said.

“It’s not ideal that we’ve had to go with this option this week, but we will definitely have a reserves team for the following week (at home against South Bendigo).”

As a result of the reserves forfeit, the senior game on Saturday will start at the earlier time of 1.10pm. The under-18s will start at 10.45am.

The Magpies have endured a tough season on the field, with the seniors and reserves winless after 14 rounds.

Hillier said there was light at the end of the tunnel for the Magpies, with the club closing in on appointing a new senior coach for 2016 to replace club legend Jamie Bond, who will step down at the end of this season.

“We’ve finished our formal interviews and we’re doing reference checks now,’’ Hillier said. “We did have one of our prime candidates pull out because of a business opportunity in South Australia, but we have a shortlist of three and we hope to announce the new coach before the end of the season.”

Hillier said the club’s preference was to appoint a playing coach.

Meanwhile, Maryborough has also had positive discussions recently with neighbouring Maryborough Castlemaine District Football League club Maryborough Rovers about sharing resources next year.

“We’ve had a productive meeting with Maryborough Rovers… over rationalising resources because we are so close,’’ Hillier said.

“It will go back to club members now regarding Rovers playing out of Princes Park next year. It would force the BFNL and MCDFNL to alternate home games in the fixture, so that the two clubs are not competing for crowds.”